Machine for securing together boards by means of cleats.



Nn. 70mm'. Patented Aug. I9, |902.'-

c. JOHNSON. momma son szcunme mennen soAnnsm rin-:Ans oF cLeArs.-

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1902.)

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Patented Aug.- I9, '|902'.y

v C. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR SEOURING TOGETHER BOARDS BY MEANS 0F OLEATSQ (Application led Apr. 15, 1902.)

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(No Model.)

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C. JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR SECUHING TOGETHER BOARDS BY MEANS OF CLEATS. (Application med Apr. 15, 1902.) {Nu Model.) 5y Sheets-Sheet 3 VMM@ afan/Mw 153/ 'ltmfowyff ,M :MU: 1 ------I y um E miam.- Y .Lv l ...Inl L\., m m v. m n o mo o o w YH: Nos-ms PETERS co.. PHOTO-Lima, WASHINGTON. D. c.

f Patented Aug. i9, |5102.

N o. v70mm.

c. .|oHNsoN. MACHINE FOR SECURING TOGETHER BOARDS BY MEANS y0F CLEATS.

(Applicationlled Apr. 15, 1902.)

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Patented Aug. I9, |902.

c. J'oHNsovN. MACHINE FUR SECURING- TOGETHER BOARDS BY MEANS 0F CLEATS. l

(Application med Apr. 15, 1902.)

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NITED STATES CHARLES JOHNSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF vPlatiniNT OFFICE.

TO ARTHUR R. ROGERS, v'OE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

MACHINE'FQRSECURING TOGETHERBOARDS BY MEANS'OF CLEATS.V

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 707,116, dated August y19, 1902. Application tiled April 15, 1902. Serial No. 102,972. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.- g

Be it known that LCnARLEs JoHNsON,a citizen of the United States, residing at Minne# apolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and v 1 are driven either directly or indirectly from use the same. g

yMy present invention has for its'obiect to provide a simple and eftlcient'machine for securing together boards or'strips by means of cleats; and to thisend' it consists of the novel devices and combinations "of vdevices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims. 3

The utilization ofY small strips and boards has become an important problem in the manufacture of lumber. together small boards or strips they maybe used in lieu of comparatively large boards,

and in this way their market value" maybe greatly increased.V Otherwise stated, small pieces or strips of lumber which would :Other-A wise be sold as fuel or at a verylow price when secured together to form blanks'for large pieces become useful for making boxes and for various building purposes and may be sold for a relatively much higher price.

It is the purpose of my present invention to provide a machine for automatically putting together these strips orrrelatively small boards to form blanks or composite boards of the above character.

An automatic machine for accomplishing the above result is illustrated in the accompanyingA drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts Y throughout the several views. Y

Figure 1 is a plan 'View ofthe complete machine. Fig. 2 is Whatlnaybe termed alleft side elevation of the machine, some parts thereof being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on? the line @o3 w3 of Fig. 1, some parts being left in full. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line m4 asL of Fig. 1, some parts being left in'full.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken lon the By properly securing line m5 x5 of Fig. 4. Fig. l6 is a detail in side crank-disk for imparting movements tothe blank-feeding plunger or blade; and Fig. 7 isa vertical section taken approximately ou` `the line x2 no2 of Fig. 1.

. All of the parts of the machine are supported .directly or indirectly from a heavy rectangular frame 1, provided on its top with a horizontally-extended face-plate 2.

All of the running parts ofthe machine The pulley 5 has a very wide face and is, in

fact, in the form of a drum. A belt 7 runs over the pulley 6 and over a relatively large pulley 8 on a counter-shaft 9, also suitably mounted in .bearings on the frame 1. This elevation, showing the adjustable-throw counter-shaft 9 has a spur-pinion 10, which meshes with the spur-gear 1l on a counter-y shaft 1'2, also lsuitably mounted in'bearings on the frame 1. The counter-shaft 12 is provided at one end with a sprocket 13, and ap# yprokimately at the centerv of the machine it yis provided with a crank-disk 14, having a variable throw-crank', constructed as hereinafter described. A sprocket-chain 15 runs A pair of laterally-spaced and verticallydisposed saw-spindles 21 are mounted at the central portion of the machine Ain bearingbrackets 22. v The bearing-brackets 22 are adj ustable laterally and transversely of the Inachine on an upper guide-rod 23 and on a'lower 1 guide-bar 24, whichrod and bar, are rigidly supported at their ends `bythefsides of the machine-frame, as best shown inFig. 3.y The right-hand bearing-bracket 22 is adaptedto be adjusted' laterally and held where set by means of an adjusting-screw 25, swiveledin one side of the frame 1 and working with screw-threaded engagement through the upper end of said bracket. The other bearingbracket 22 is likewise made adjustable and adapted to be held where set by an adjustingscrew 26, which is longer than the screw 25, but which works in the same mannerthat is, is swiveled in one side of the frame 1 and works with screw-threaded engagement through the said left-hand bracket 25, directions being here taken with respect to Fig. 3. Each saw-spindle 21 is provided with a small pulley 27, over which and the driving pulley or drum 5 one of a pair of twisted belts 28 runs to impart motion to the said spindle. At their upper ends the spindles 21 are provided with thick saws or groove-cutters 29,

which work in the same horizontal plane.

The strips or board-sections e', which are to form the blanks, are piled in a stack upon the rear portions of a pair of parallel tracks or' guide-rails 22' and within a suitable magazine afforded by a pair of parallel boards or magazine plates 30, provided with lateral strips 3l. The guide-rails 22a are rigidly secured one to each adjustable bracket 22 and are adjustable with the respective brackets. The forward or inner strips 31 terminate short of the guide-rails 22a, so as to permit the bottom or lower blank or boards which are to make up the same to be fed forward. The rear or outer strips 3l are secured for lateral adjustments toward and from the forward strips by slot-and-bolt engagements 32. The magazine-plates 30 are shown as secured one to each guide-rail 22a by brackets 33. The blanks are fed forward one at a time from the bottom of the stack contained in the magazine 30 3l by means of a reciprocating blade or feed-plunger 34, which is carried by a slide 35, which, as shown, works in a dovetailed seat formed in the face of the plate 2. The slide 35 is provided with a longitudinal slot 36, in which is adjustably secured, by means of a nut 37, the stem of a depending head 38. The head 38 is connected by a link 39 to the npperend of a lever 40, the lower end of which is pivoted to an extension 41 of the frame l. The intermediate portion of the lever 40 is connected by a link 42 to a wrist-pin 43, projected from a block or base 44, which works adj ustably in a radial slot 45 of the variablethrow crank-disk 14. The block 44 is adapted to be adjusted and held where set by means of an adjusting-screw 46, swiveled in the face of the said disk 14. When the incomplete blanks are fed rearward out of the magazine, they pass under a gravity-actuated presserboard 47, the forward end of which is pivoted between the side boards 30 of the magazine by means of a rod 48. As the said blanks are moved under the upturned pivoted end of the presser-board 47 they are tightly held downward on the guide-rails 22a and are forced between and past the saws or cutters 29. The

saws or cutters form grooves in the crossgrained edges of the blanks, as best indicated in Fig. 3. To prevent the saws orcutters from throwing the blanks or the boards thereof backward toward the supply magazine when the feed plunger or blade 34 is making its return stroke, the said presser-board 47 is provided with gravity-pressed dogs or toothed pawls 49, which engage the said board with a ratchet action.

Rearward of the saws or cutters 29, but forward of the rear ends of the rails 22' and presser-board 47, is a pair of laterally-spaced magazines, which are adapted to contain the cleats z, arranged in two stacks. These magazines are preferably formed by two pairs of vertically-disposed angle-guides 50, turned with their grooved edges inward and located one pair on each side of the presser-board 47 A pair of parallel laterally-spaced side boards 5l coperate with the angle-irons 50. The boards 51 are secured one to each rail 22a by means of angle-straps 52. The angle-guides 50 are adj ustably secured to the boards 51 by slot-and-bolt engagements 53. (Best shown in Fig. 2.) The cleats e are piled in stacks within the magazines afforded by the angleguides 50 and coperating boards 5l, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The bottom members of the cleats a of each stack are adapted to be fed simultaneously inward by blades or feed -plungers 54, carried by slides 55, which, as shown, work with dovetailed engagements in seats 56, formed in the faceplate 2, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The slides 55 are provided with slots 57, in which are adj ustably secured, by means of suitable nuts, the stems of studs 58, on the depending ends of which are mounted rollers 59. The rollers 59 are subject to the cams 19 and are adapted to be engaged and moved simultaneously inward by the cam-surfaces 2O of the said cams. Normally the slides 55 and rollers 59 are held far enough outward to carry the driving blades or plungers 54 outward of the stacks or cleats a', so that the bottom members of the said cleats will normally rest upon the faces of the rails 229. The said slides are yieldingly held outward or in their normal positions preferably by weights 60, suspended by cords 61, passed over the guide-sheaves 62 and connected to the rear ends of reverselyacting levers 63, the other ends of which 1evers press against the nuts 58' of the rollerequipped studs 58. As shown, the guidesheaves 62 are mounted on suitable projections from the rear end of the face-plate 2, andthe levers 53 are pivoted at 63 to the top of the said face-plate 2.

The operation of the machine, briefly summarized, is as follows: At each reciprocation of the blank-feeding blade or plunger 34 an unfinished blanke', made up of several boards or sections, will be fed rearward under the presser-board 47 and past the saws or groovecutters 29, under which movement the grooves will be cut in the ends of the same, as already described. A second movement 0E the said blade or plunger 34 will of course force out IOO IlO

vinto a position where its grooved, ends will stand between and. in line Awith thelower cleats'z ofl the two stacks contained in` the magazines 5.0 l. While the said'` plunger 34 is makingits returnstroke the lsaid alined blank" will be left standing still,` and during this time the cam-surfaces of the cams 19, acting on the rollers 29 of the slides 55, force inward said slides,together with the blades 54, thereby causing said Ablades to force yinward the lower members of the two stacks of cleats z and tightly press the same into the grooved ends of the several boards of the ali'ned` blanks. The cleats arethus caused to securely unite the several boards or strips of theblank, and when theyare thus applied the blanks are put into commercial'form. l l

It will be seen that the cleat-feeding blades or plungers 54 operate simultaneously to press the cleats into the opposite grooved edges of the blank and react the one against the other. Otherwise stated, the one blade serves as a stop to hold the blank while the other blade is pressing the'cleat'into place in the grooved edge -of the blank, an'd the said relation is reciprocal between the saidl blades or cleatpressing'devicos. j s The action above described ismof course under the continued operation of the machine automatically repeated `over and over again,

l while the completed blanks will be crowded rearward and dropped from the rear ends of the tracks 22a vand face-plate 2.

From the description already given it will of course be understood thatby properly ad justing the .several magazinesand by properly adjusting the movements of the blank- `feeding and cleat-feeding plungers or blades blanks or composite boards of any desired size, within certain limits, of course, may be -made by the machine described. Itwill also of course be understood that when one of the saw-guides 2.2 is adjusted laterally the corresponding magazine-plates 30 and 51 will be moved therewith. The said magazineplates may be made adjustable with respect to the 'guide-rails 22a, whichcarry them, so asv to compensate for the wear of thel saws -or cutters. It is not of course necessary that both of the brackets 22 be made adjustable, but it is 'desirable in that the capacity of the machine for holding largeblanks is thereby increased.

I have demonstrated ythe efficiency of the l machine above described by actual usage of the machine for the purposes set forth.

It will of course be understood that the machine described is capable of many modifications within the scope of my invention asI herein set forth and claimed. y

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. The combination with a pair of groovecutters, of means for feeding the blanks edgef grooved edges of said blank, which pressing devices -react the one against the other, substantially as described.

2. The combination with means for feeding A the grooved blanks, of means for supplying cleats to Ithe opposite groovedl edges of saidf blanks, and a4 pair of pressingdevicesfor Vpressing into said grooved edgesof the blanks,

which pressing devices react the one against they other, substantially as'described. 3. The combination withapairof laterallyspaced magazines for the cleats, of means for .feeding f the grooved blanks between l said magazines, andl reversely-recipocating feed azines and serving to press said cleats into the grooves of said blanks, substantially as described. j

4. The combination with a ypair of laterallyspaced magazines for the "cleats,'of means'for feeding ythe groovedf 4blanks between said `plungers or blades coperating with said magmagazines, apair of reversely-movable cleatfeeding plungers or blades, and meansfor simultaneouslymovingsaidplungers inward, j

involving a counter-shaft and a pair of cams, carried thereby, Vsubstantially as described.

5. The combination with'a pair of laterallyspaced magazines for the cleats, one of which' magazines is adjustable laterally with respect to the other, of means for supplying the grooved blanks between said adjustable,

magazines, and reversely-movable cleat-feeding plungers or blades cooperating with said magazines and serving to pressthe cleats into4 the groovesof said blanks, described. Y v

6. The combination with a laterallyadjust able magazine for the'blanks, of means for substantially as Ido feedingI said blanks, *one at a time, from said Y magazine, and a pair of laterally-spaced cleat supplying magazines between'which .said

blanks are fed, and reciprocating blades orl plungers for pressing the cleats' into the IIC grooved edges of said blanks, substantially as. described.

7 The combination with e a magazineY for, the blanks, and means for feeding the'blanks, one at a time, from the magazine, a cutterI for grooving an edge -of said blankasjthe" same is fed from the magazine, and a cleats supplying` magazine past which the grooved edge of said blank is moved, and means for pressing the cleats from said magazine into the grooved edge of said blank, substantially as described. I

8. The combination. with a blankfsupplye` ing mechanism, and means for feeding the blanks therefrom, one at a time,"of apairof saws or cutters between which said blanks lare fed edgewise ofa pair of cleat-'supplying magazines between which said blanks are fed, after passing saidcutters, 'and v e pressing said cleats intothe opposite grooved '13o means, for l edges of said blanks,` substantially as described.

9. The combination with a blank-supply-A ing magazine and a reciprocating blank-feeding plunger or blade, of a pair of saws or cutters for grooving the edges of the blanks as they are fed from the magazine, a pair of laterally-spaced cleat-supplying magazines between which the grooved blanks are fed, and a pair of reversely-reciprocatin g pl ungers or blades for simultaneously pressing the cleats into the opposite edges of the blanks, substantially as described.'

l0. The combination with a blank-supplying magazine and means for feeding the blanks therefrom, one at a time, of a pair of laterally spaced magazines for the cleats, means for pressing the cleats into the grooves of said blanks, and a pivoted gravity-held presser-board extending from said blanksnpplyin g magazine between said cleat-magazines, and under which the blanks are caused to pass, substantially as described.

ll. The combination with a pair of supports extending in the general direction of the feed of the machine, one of said supports being adjustable laterally with respect to the other, of an adjustable blank supplying magazine, the sides of which are mounted one on each of said supports, means for feeding the blanks, one at a time, from said magazine, a pair of laterally-spaced cleat-magazines mounted one on each of said supports, and means for pressing the cleats from said cleat-magazines into the grooved edges of the blanks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence 0E two witnesses.

CHARLES JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH KELIHER, F. D. MERCHANT. 

